To quote Anne Marie Helmenstine, Biomedical Sciences Ph.D: "There is no minimum safe exposure limit, in part because lead accumulates in the body. There are government regulations regarding 'acceptable' limits for products and pollution, because lead is useful and necessary, but the reality is, any lead is too much lead."
I've accepted that a portion of my lipstick will end up swallowed. It may not be much, but it adds up, and it's gross. I've loved wearing my Vapour Siren Lipsticks, but I've also looked into more options. This lipstick roundup features cruelty-free brands that are not only lead-free, but also free from potentially toxic chemicals.
For my vegan readers, you'll find some vegan options below as well! I've listed all the ingredients. Some lipsticks do contain Carmine or Beeswax.
Is There Lead In Lipstick?
Yes, this is absolutely not a myth. Almost all lipstick contains some amount of lead! The law tolerates it in tiny amounts, be it in the USA, Canada, or the EU.
Choosing natural makeup brands is the only way to ensure that your lipsticks doesn't contain lead.
Here's a graph based on a study by the FDA, showing us the 20 lipsticks that were found to contain the most lead.
As you can see, there are some very mainstream brands in there. This even includes Burt's Bees, which claims to be a natural brand!
How dangerous is lead?
The reason why trace amounts of lead are permitted by the FDA is because lead is considered safe, as long as it's in very small amounts.
But on the other hand, research shows that lead can be harmful. One of the metals contained in some lipsticks is Cadmium, which is found in breast cancer tissue and has been found to help cancer cells multiply.
The bottom line is that lead in very small amounts is found to be safe, but the safest option is to minimize the lead you're absorbing. Lead isn't even necessary in lipstick, so why not choose a natural lipsticks that's just as good and non-toxic?
Let's move on to the lipstick.
($26)
ILIA
The Brand: The ultimate non-toxic lipstick. Each ILIA product contains over 85% organic ingredients and is formulated to be both high-quality and healthy.
Ingredients
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Jojoba (Simmondsia Chinensis) Seed Oil*, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Beeswax (Cera Alba)*, Triisostearyl Citrate, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Seed Butter*, Manihot Esculenta (Tapioca) Starch *, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Oil, Sage (Salvia Officinalis) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol. May Contain: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxide (CI 77499, CI 77492, CI 77491), Red 7 CI15850, Red 28 CI45410, Yellow 5 CI19140.
Where To Buy:
TheDetoxMarket.com (USA, Canada).
(USA, Canada)
IAmNatural.com (Australia)
($22)
W3ll People
The Brand: Offering everything from face to lip products, W3ll People focuses on simple products that can sometimes multi-task. Everything is totally free from potentially harsh chemicals and over 80% organic.
Castor Oil*, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate, Brassica Campestris/Aleurites Fordii Oil Copolymer, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil (and) Aloe Barbadenis (Aloe) Extract, Mica (CI 77019),Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) oil, Vanilla flavor, Lysine, Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia) Extract, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea)*, Roman Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile)*. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891),Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).
Where To Buy:
(USA, Canada)
TheDetoxMarket.com (USA, Canada)
($28)
Bite Beauty
The Brand: Exclusively available at Sephora, Bite lipsticks use ingredients that are "good enough to eat" as well as antioxidants. No BS. They're natural and organic!
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil*, Glyceryl Rosinate, Cera Alba (Beeswax)*, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Triisostearyl Citrate, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil*, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil*, Sesamum Indicum (Sesame) Seed Oil*, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Cera (Wax), Polymethyl Methacrylate, Hydrogenated Castor Oil*, Flavor (Aroma), Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Wax*, Acacia Decurrens Flower Wax*,Polyglyceryin-3*, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil*, Athemis Noblis (Chamomile) Flower Extract*, Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Butter*, Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil*, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Extract, Silk Powder, Pearl Powder*, Glyceryl Oleate*, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil Unsaponifiables*, Tocopherol*, Trans-Resveratrol*, Siraitia Grosvenorii (Monk Fruit) Extract*. May Contain: Mica (Cl 77019), Titanium Dioxide (Cl 77891), Iron Oxides (Cl 77491, Cl 77492, Cl 77499), Carmine (Cl 75470), Blue 1 Lake (Cl 42090), Yellow 5 Lake (Cl 19140), Yellow 6 Lake (Cl 15985), Red 40 Lake (Cl 16035), Red 6 Lake (Cl 15850), Red 7 Lake (Cl 15850), Red 33 Lake (Cl 17200), Manganese Violet (Cl 77742)*, Bismuth Oxychloride (Cl 77163), Magnesium Stearate.
Where To Buy:
(USA)
Sephora.com (Canada)
Vapour
The Brand: Vapour Organics Beauty wants to give you glowy skin, the natural way. They use high-quality ingredients and offer everything from dewy foundations to moisturizing lipsticks. These lipsticks contain 70% organic ingredients, and 30% minerals.
Organic Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Organic Cera Alba (Beeswax), Castor Isostearate Beeswax Succinate*, Mica, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Organic Prunus Domesticus (Plum) & Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Flavour Oil, Organic Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem Extract, Organic Camelina Sativa Oil, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Organic Rosa Damascena (Rose) Buds, Organic Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) Leaf Extract, Wildcrafted Commiphora Myrrha (Myrrh) Gum, Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevia) Leaf Extract. May contain: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Carmine (CI 75470), Manganese Violet (CI 77742).
Where To Buy:
(USA, Canada)
Red Apple Lipstick
The Brand: RAL is non-toxic, gluten-free, and vegan. They specialize in lipsticks and offer over 42 beautiful shades in various finishes.
Ricinus Communis, Ozokerite, Caprylic/Capric Triglycerides, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Synthetic Bees Wax, Olive (Olea Europea) Oil, Theobroma Grandiflorum (Cupuacu) Seed Butter, Tocopheryl Acetate from an all natural non gluten source, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis leaf Extract. May contain: Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Iron Oxides.
Where To Buy:
RedAppleLipstick.com (Worldwide)
100% Pure
The Brand: What makes 100% Pure stand out from the crowd is their use of fruit pigments. They actually extract pigments from berries (or even tomatoes!) and use them to color their makeup. Isn't that the best thing ever?! If that's not natural, I don't know what is.
Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Argania Spinsosa (Argan) Oil, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E), Pigments of Punica Granatum (Pomegranate), Prunus Persica (Peach) Fruit, Prunus Cerasus (Cherry), Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Fruit, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit/Leaf/Stem and Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa), Origanum Vulgare (Oregano) Leaf, Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf, Cinnamomum Zeylanicum Bark (Cinnamon), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem, Hydrastis Canadensis (Goldenseal), Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Essential Oil, Zinc, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract. May Contain: Iron Oxides.
Where To Buy:
100PercentPure.com (Worldwide)
Nudus
The Brand: A full line of lipsticks based in Australia. They use natural and organic ingredients like Kiwi Seed Oil (rich in Vitamins C and E!), Aloe Vera, and Argan Oil.
Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil * , Cera Alba (Beeswax) * , Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Cera * , Tribehenin , Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter * , Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil * , Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil * , Tocopherol (Vitamin E) , Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil * , Punica Granatum (Pomegranate) Seed Oil * , Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin) Seed Oil , Sclerocarya Birrea (Marula) Seed Oil * , Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Seed Oil , Rubus Idaeus (Raspberry) Seed Oil * , Fragrance * , May Contain -+ Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide) , Mica , May Contain CI 75470 (Carmine) , Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract , Melia Azadirchta Flower Extract , Amino-Esters-1 , Coccinia Indica , Solanum Melongena (Eggplant) Fruit Extract , Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract , Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil , Ocimum Sanctum (Holy Basil) Leaf Extract , Ocimum Basilicum (Basil) Extract , Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract , Corallina Officinalis (Coral Seaweed) Extract , Eclipta Prostrata Extract , Moringa Pterygosperma Oil , Melia Azadirachta Fruit/Seed Extract , Coccinia Indica Flower Extract , Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract.
Where To Buy:
Nudus.com (Australia)
I hope you've enjoyed this list, and feel free to contribute your own favorite lead-free lipstick brands in the comments!
Have you tried any of these? Which lead-free lipsticks are your faves?
Which Brands Are Cruelty-Free?
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LipSense is certified lead free, and is cruelty free and vegan.
Great list Suzana,
The packaging for the Nudus lipstick is so cool! I’m glad you mention above that vegans might want to avoid carmine and beeswax. Just to add to your point, lanolin oil is commonly used in lipsticks and it’s made from sheep sebaceous glands. Another one to avoid for vegans! None of the lipsticks listed here seem to have that ingredient so that’s fantastic! In case it interests your readers, we actually recently published a post detailing some of the ingredients to potentially avoid when choosing a new lipstick:
https://makeupscholar.com/what-lipstick-made-of/
Thanks again for the lipstick recommendations,
Laura.
Very helpful article. Will check out the sites for lipsticks. Thanks.
Can’t get a response from Color the World lipsticks about lead in their product. Won’t but until I find out.
This is not true. Any lipstick contains Red 6 and above considered to have lead. All the brands mentioned in this post contains lead in its ingredients
Question – how do you know these are, indeed, lead free? The lead generally comes from the oxides and ores that make the pigments and nearly all of these, except for 100% Pure, contain mica, titanium dioxide or iron oxide. I’d need verification from a 3rd party lab to believe these claims. Don’t forget, lead IS a natural substance!
Glad this was helpful, Recebba. 🙂 I don’t think you’d be able to see “lead” in the ingredient list unfortunately! From what I can see, lead is mainly found in trace amounts in other ingredients that are used.
Good to know!
BITE Beauty and ILIA are two brands that I can’t recommend enough! They do such fantastic products and certainly make me feel much better about the products I’m putting on my lips. ILIA Wildchild has been one of my go-tos for this weather. Such a great wearable red. xx
Celina | The Celution | Bloglovin’
I love Bite! It’s awesome that they’re sold at Sephora AND more natural than most lipsticks.
Fantastic list!!! Definitely need to give some of these a try!
prettyneutral.com
Thank you Ellen! 🙂
Great post! I went vegan a couple of months ago and now I am looking to replace all my makeup with Vegan and cruelty-free brands, so this was really helpful, Thanks!
http://www.ajourneywithjo.com
Thanks Jo! 🙂